Written by

Bill Lueders
| For Gannett Central Wisconsin Media

In the Legislature, as in life, sometimes the greatest power lies with whoever is in a position to say no. For a bill to expand treatment and diversion programs to criminal defendants with mental illness, that whoever may be Glenn Grothman.

The Republican state senator from West Bend wants to bottle up the bill, now before the Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee, which he chairs. Many bills do die this way, stalled in committee, although it's possible this one will pass over Grothman's objections.

That's because, aside from Grothman, the bill has overwhelming support. SB 374 and its ...